Railway-crossing signal.



No. 633,907. Patented Sept; 26, 899.

IL. RILEY. I RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL.

(Applicitinn fllnd Aug. 21, 1899-) In Iodal.)

W FE

" UNITED 'ST T s;

PATENT OFFICED MICHAEL RILEY, oF'L'o DoN, 01 110.,

IRAILWAY'QROSSINGA SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,907, dated September 26, 1899. I

- Application filed August 21, 1899. Serial No. 727,8 3. lNo model.)

To all wlwm/ it may concern: I

Be it known that I, MICHAEL RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at London,

in the county of Madison and State of Ohio,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to theimprovement of railway crossing signals; and the objects of my invention are to provide a mechanically operated crossing-signal and alarm of simple and improved construction, to so construct the same as to automatically ring an alarm-bell and wave a signal flag and lamp on the approach of a train, and to produce certainimprovements in details of construction and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a railway-track, showing my improvement connected therewith; and Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of a section of track-rail having my improved trip thereon.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout both views:

1 represents one of the rails of a railwaytrack, on the outer side of which I pivot or fulcrum centrally at 2 a trip-lever 3, the latter being provided on one side of the center elevated or head portion of the trip-lever 3 and the upper side of the track-rail flange I interpose a suitable coiled spring 5, the latter servingto normally retain the raised portion 4 of the leverslightly above the tread of the track-rail. I

6 represents the horizontal portion of a signal-operating rod, which, as indicated in the drawings, is journaled in suitable boxings or brackets 7, which are supported from the track-rail flange at desirable points. As indicated at 8 and 9, the rod 6 is provided at two separated points with crank-bends, the latter extending approximately at right angles witheach other. These crank-bends 8 and 9 are jointedly connected with the end portions of the lever 3 through the medium of upright connecting-rods 10 and 11, the upper ends of said connecting-rods having a journal connection with projections 12 on the outer side of said lever.

- At a point adjacent to aroad or street crossing and ata desirable distance from that trackrail which is provided with the trip-lever I support a bell-post 13, on the upper portion of which is mounted a bell 14, which may be snitably honsed or incased, if desired. The operating-rode after extending the desired distance along the side of the track-rail is extended upward vertically, its upper portion being provided with an angular bend, as indicated at 15, said bent portion terminating in an upwardly-extendingbell-tapper arm 16,the latter being thus retained in position to strike the bell 14L when the arm 16 is swung in the direction of the length of the roadway or street crossing in the manner hereinafter described.

The vertical portion of the operating-rod 6 is provided with one or more socket-pieces 17, which is adapted to receive the vertical arm of an angular signal-displaying rod 18, the upper horizontal arm of which is provided centrally with a suitable form of signal-light l9, and the outer end portion thereof is provided with a signal-flag 20, the latter thus being' suspended over the roadway adjacent to the track.

It will readily be seen'that the wheels of a car coming into contact with the projection 2 of the trip-leverwill result in depressing said trip-lever and through the crank connection of the same with the operating-rod 6 cause the vertical portion of the latter to swing until the bell-tapper supported thereby strikes the bell 14. As the lever is, relieved from the pressure of a passing car-wheel it is obvious that the spring 5 will serve to insure the re turn of the elevated portion of the lever to a point above the rail-tread and the return of the vertical portion of the operating-rod to its normal position. It will thus be seen that as the wheels of the cars of a train successively come into contact with and leave the projecting portion of the lever 3 a waving motion of the upper portion of the operating-rod will be attained, which will not only result in asuccessive tapping of the bell, but in a waving of the signal-flag 20 and the light 19. It will thus be seen that by a simple and reliable mechanlsnl a signal is provided at a street-crossing which will indicate an approaching train both to the eye and ear.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with the track-rails and a bell-post and bell supported thereon, of a trip-lever fulcrurned to the side of one of said rails and having an upwardly-projecting portion adapted to contact with the wheels of a passing car, a journaled operating-rod having crank-bends therein and arms jointedly connecting said crank-bends with the end portions of said lever, said operating-rod having an upwardly projecting rapper-carrying portion, substan tially as specified.

2. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with the track-rails and a bell-supporting post adjacent thereto, of a lever fulcruincd to the side of one of said traclcrails and having an upwardlyprojecting trip portion, a spring interposed between the head of said lever and the flange of said rail, an operatingrod journaled on or adjacent to said rail be- MICHAEL RILEY.

In presence of- O. O. SHEPHERD, A. L. PHELPS. 

